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6 Beauty Secrets for Outsmarting Allergy Season

Just because you feel miserable doesn't mean you have to look it, too. These tips work double-duty at alleviating symptoms and reducing visible signs you're suffering from allergies, like red, puffy eyes. Here's what to do.

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WEDNESDAY, April 11, 2012 — When your allergies act up, you're probably not the only one who notices. From red, itchy eyes to congestion, the uncomfortable symptoms show. There's even a name for how allergies affect your appearance — allergy face.

We checked in with allergy and beauty experts to get tips for staying healthy and looking your best while allergens are in the air. Here's what we found.

Drink water. If you feel like drinking water is the answer to everything, you're right. It sort of is. On the allergy front, as Neeta Ogden, MD, an adult and pediatric allergist at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in Englewood, N.J., puts it, "Water keeps everything moving." Drinking lots of H2O can relieve puffiness and nasal congestion. Not a big water-drinker? Actress and allergy veteran Kate Walsh drinks water with lemon to give it some flavor. And beauty expert Rebekah George says the secret to drinking more water is having it readily available. She suggests keeping a big pitcher at your desk.

Wear sunglasses.Protect your eyes from pollen and mold spores in the most stylish way possible. If you're on the hunt for a new pair, look for frames that wrap around to cover as much of your eyes as possible.

Moisturize. You'll be blowing your nose a lot, so Dr. Ogden recommends using soft, moisturizing tissues. To minimize the inevitable redness and irritation, apply your favorite facial moisturizer before bed, plus before putting on makeup in the morning.

Shower at night. If you only take showers in the morning, you may actually be making your allergy symptoms worse. Instead, showering when you come in from being outside or before bed rids your body of any pollen you picked up throughout the day. Ogden also tells patients to rinse their noses of residual pollen every night with a saline wash. "It may prevent you from waking up congested and swollen, because you haven't let the pollen settle in your mucous membranes," she says.

Chill out with cold compresses. "Puffy, allergic eyes also do well with cool wet compresses to help bring swelling down," says Ogden.

Skip that glass of wine. Sure, sitting down at the end of a long day with your cold compresses and a glass of your favorite vino sounds nice in theory. But it's not the smartest move for your allergy symptoms. Alcohol increases blood flow to your nose, which can worsen the congestion you already feel. Instead, bring a tall glass of water to the couch when you're relaxing.

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